Christmas

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Throwback Thursday -- Artisans

Last night after Wheel of Fortune, they showed some pictures of Grand Central Station in New York City. That place is gorgeous – I can still remember the first I saw it and was in awe. After the little excerpt, it got me thinking about all the workers who constructed those places. Back then, in 1913, there were construction workers, but there were also many artisans, people (men) who treated their trade as artists. I’m referring to those who put up those intricate ceilings and plastered designs onto walls. They worked with their craft as an artist or sculptor does, and the results are majestic.

If you’ve ever visited or seen pictures of the grand architecture of the late 1890s and early 1900s, you’ve undoubtedly seen examples of such craftsmanship. While we may not condone the elaborate lifestyles of those affluent families, we must recognize the details of the workers who decorated the buildings. Whenever I visit Newport, RI, I love to see those summer homes of the rich and famous. I look at the minute intricacies of each room. The soaring ceilings often hold paintings or molding that is no longer in existence. Sometimes, the artists were brought to the US from other countries where their work was known.  These rooms took months to complete, and the workers took pride in their masterpieces.

I’ve only had the occasion to meet similar workers twice. When we first moved into this house many moons ago, we wanted to change the locks. We knew the house was old, but the borough records only go back to 1920. Anything built before then was just recorded as 1920. This house has many designs that were popular at the turn of the last century. When the locksmith came, he was a very old gentleman, but he knew his craft. Our front door is very unique, and the lock was quite old. As the man worked, he told me he remembered this house being built when he was a young boy. It was the only house on the unpaved street, and the builder designed it for himself. He said that the original structure expanded and artistic details were added. He even showed me how old the lock was, and he praised the workmanship. He carefully worked the new lock into the door, while preserving the old-fashioned detail.

When we put the addition on the house, we strived to have it blend in with the old. Interiorly, that meant keeping the same woodwork. The general contractor searched for someone who still made these large moldings around doorways, and finally found a husband and son team. These two studied all the moldings and decided they must create their own from scratch. They measured the large piece of wood and then found existing moldings to replicate the original. They were able to copy it exactly. I so enjoyed watching them work as they took such pride in each step.

I’m sure that such artisans still exist, but nowadays most new construction doesn’t include such fine details. My daughter found a company that still makes old-fashioned woodwork, and they were hired to do columns and wainscoting in their home. But the real artists are probably long gone.

Peace,

Muff

8 comments:

  1. Interesting review of a, perhaps, bygone era in construction. It left me wondering, though, whether, you were still planning on moving from your amazing house.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah, the big question...I'll answer it in my post.

      Delete
  2. My neighbor/friend with some help of an amazing carpenter put a wheelchair ramp on the back side of the house to connect to the back door. It looks like the house was built that way, the ramp has just been there. Always.

    Said neighbor is, among other things, an artisan house painter. It is a *joy* to watch him work. Doesn't matter what they're doing... craftsmen (and -women) are just amazing to watch!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I recently saw a ramp like that. It so perfectly tied in with the structure of the house, you didn't see it as a ramp. I, too, get pleasure watching true artists at work.

      Delete
  3. We had an awesome woodworking expert help us when we renovated parts of our home. There are still some contractors out there but they are difficult to find....our guy came highly recommended!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There are still great experts around, but they're a dying breed I'm afraid.

      Delete
  4. I think that there are still those who elevate even ordinary work by their attention to detail and they are a joy to watch.
    I once had a broken water pipe under the porch. The first guy we contacted said he would have to pull the whole porch down to get at it. A colleague recommended someone else, saying the guy was like an artist with a backhoe. And I have to say, the precision and delicacy he used in changing out that pipe (without so much as a knick to the porch) really was something to see.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Isn't it great when you find someone like that? Nowadays, I see too many slap-dash workers who derive no joy from their work.

      Delete